The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Daytona Bike Week’s Second Event
February 18, 2010

The motorcycle community generally is very open and welcoming. All that is required is a love for motorcycles and that commonality is the bond that’s shared. The open nature of the motorcycle community represents the best of American culture.

But American culture has not always been open.

For years, African Americans found themselves on the outside of mainstream America. Attending certain events and going certain places was not an option. This largely changed after the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

While racial segregation is thankfully a thing of the past, many communities celebrate the past by honoring events born out of segregation.

One of those celebration is Daytona’s Black Bike Week (also called Bikers in the Park); running concurrently with Daytona Beach Bike Week. This event runs from February 26-March 7 on Bethune Boulevard in the heart of Daytona’s African American Community. Much like Bike Week, this event features vendors, food, music, hot bikes, and African American bikers from across the country. This event has been sponsored in part by Harley Davidson for the past few years.

Much like Main Street in Daytona Beach, Bethune Boulevard was the ‘Main Street’ in Daytona’s African American community before the Civil Rights movement. As African American’s gained wider acceptance, Bethune Boulevard became less significant as a social and business center for the community. Still, Black Bike Week has become a yearly institution.

Thousands of Black Bikers make the trip to Daytona for both the Main Street and Bethune Boulevard events. Some come just for the Bethune Boulevard events.

If you are a regular attendee of Daytona Beach Bike Week or if this year will be you’re your first trip, take a detour over to Bethune Boulevard to check out Black Bike Week. You’ll meet some new bikers, see some great bikes, and get a chance to see one of Daytona’s historic neighborhoods.